Adventures on the 4th of July

I wasn’t so sure I was going to make it for today’s session. I always try to leave a little early since I never know what to expect on my way to a client’s home. I have the horrible habit of letting my gas get far too close to “E” and never know when I hop in the car if it will be a quick ride or if I’ll have to stop for gas. Anyway, I’m so glad I operate this way, because a couple of blocks before my destination, road blocks were set up with a small crowd of people passing by with strollers and camping chairs. “Ah, yes…it’s the 4th of July!”

So I turned down another road and parked as close as I could thinking I was within half a block of the home I was visiting. I knew I had to strip down to the bare minimum when it came to newborn portrait equipment/props since I couldn’t count on grabbing stuff out of my car during a session like I would normally do. I was loaded up with my camera bag, camera, basket w/ boppy & a couple fabrics, reflector plus reflector stand. Not a breeze, but certainly doable. The entire time I was strategically piling and organizing my equipment for the easiest load, an extremely disgruntled lady from across the street who was hanging streamers from a banister must have decided that I was the world’s greatest enemy. She yelled at me about how I didn’t belong, was taking up all of the (many public) parking spaces and lots of other mumbled yelling which I couldn’t completely make out. Of course, when I quite politely explained that the road was blocked and I was just visiting someone down the street (yes…I avoid confrontation like the plague) she completely ignored my existence, kicking up her yelling again only when I would turn my back to go back to organizing and then finally heading off to my session. A little boy was coming down the sidewalk towards me on his bike, and as I was walking along (arms filled with stuff) I thought I’d step to the side to let him easily pass. Well, wouldn’t you know she yelled at me about that!

Anyway, I made it out of earshot of the angry lady, rounded the corner and noticed the house numbers were not in the same series as I was looking for. I wasn’t nearly as close as I thought I was and still had a couple blocks to go (with the camera, camera bag, basket of boppy & fabrics, reflector and reflector stand). And even more? There was a parade going right along the intersection I needed to pass with a photog from Channel 6 on the corner capturing the entire event. Boy, did I want to crawl under a rock! Thankfully, the marching band passed and a series of parade cars slowly came to a halt…perfect timing for me to hop across the street in the middle of the parade, making sure not to make eye contact with anyone, lest they think I was a nutcase! By the time I was a few feet down the sidewalk, a knob had loosened on my reflector stand, causing an arm of it to drag along the ground. To lift it back up I would have to unload my basket, bag, etc. so I just high-tailed it as best as I could ’til I finally made it to my destination. Let me tell you, I was so happy to finally get to meet baby Zoe! So, without further ado, here’s your chance to meet her too:

Actually, I have photographed Zoe once before…although, at the time, she was completely hidden inside of her mama’s belly! Today, at less than two weeks old, this little thing was already quite alert and practically mobile! We went with that theme and captured her daddy walking and soothing her down the hall as well as getting the entire family in on the action (including little Rudy & Lily) for a sweet lullaby dance. Mama rocked her in the nursery, and once again. little Rudy & Lily wanted in on the action as well, being quite protective of this new little bundle of joy. Overall, this home was the perfect sanctuary; a place of Bob Marley lullabies, loving family and such a sweet little baby. Life is good.